Sopai!  This is your friend, Joseph Ole Tepelit Jukawe writing from Kenya, Africa!

Sorry if I haven't been writing lately; the life of a Maasai herder does not leave much time for freedom, particularly if you are one of the older children in the enkang [village].  I hope you understand.

School also keeps me busy.  Between studies and herding the cattle, I don't have much time for play.  It makes me sad; I see the younger children in the village playing, running free like the gazelle, and I suddenly wish I were six again, or perhaps, even younger, to where I was a knee-baby.

I have been sad since my little sister died back in June.  I think of her every day; my eyes grow wet when I see her sweet little face in my mind's eye.  I also think of the cattle we've lost, in particular, Mweli, who was my very favourite.  She had the sweetest face, the softest brown eyes, the kindest moo!

We have lost some goats to cheetah; there are hungry cheetah about.  We have not had much in the way of rain  here; we are facing a most terrible drought; things are getting very bad here.  Mother is having to walk over five-ten miles, just to get us water, food like grains, vegetables, etc.  We have plenty of meat, but we cannot possibly survive on meat alone.

There is concern among our enkang:  malaria and cholera, both deadly maladies, are threatening our area.  Already, twelve people have died of cholera, and at least twenty five have been sickened with the shaking-fever illness (what I call malaria).  So far, my family's been spared, but what's to say we won't be next??

Also, there's reports of slim disease [AIDS] being reported here.  That is the worst thing of all:  once you get slim disease, you die.  Nothing can be done to help you; it is a very scary situation!

Every day I pray to Engai, to keep us safe from the sicknesses, and to send rain to our area before we starve to death.

Usually, this time is our wet season, but so far, very little rain since last year.  Many people have left, moved on, have taken their possesssions, their cattle, goats, etc., in search of food, substinance.  Our village has suddenly gotten a lot smaller; more empty houses around, not as many people, children to play with.

Father still says I daydream too much.  Mamesa (my second mother) says I have stars for eyes, clouds for brains, because that's where my heart, mind usually is. 

I don't know if that's a good thing or not.

Well, I have to get back to schoolwork, or teacher will punish me again by taking away my diary; that would not be good.  This is the only one I have left; my other one is full, front to back.  I got new diary for Christmas; a friend of mine got it for me.  It is my treasure, my most prized possesion besides my soccer ball.

Take care, may Engai bless you!  Thank you for reading the scribblings of a lonely Maasai boy!  I will write in here again soon!  Bye-bye!

~Joseph Jukawe.